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Sunday, October 30, 2016

Last month I had the opportunity to work with new clients, which is always exciting! The Callahan Family had just welcomed their first child, a sweet little boy, but they wanted something a little different from the typical newborn shoot. I suggested we take a cue from photojournalists and try what is sometimes called lifestyle photography, in the form of a combination Newborn/ Family photo shoot in the comfort of their own home. As the days got closer to our session, I was super excited! Planning out a photo shoot "shot-for-shot" (as I usually do) offers me a greater sense of confidence and control going into the shoot, but the photo-journalistic approach was really fun, and all the possibilities were definitely exciting. Plus, there is a sense of familiarity and honesty in the shots that definitely comes through in the finished product.

The newest little Callahan was such a sweetheart during our session- quietly gazing at windows, consenting to lots of changes in position, and enduring many kisses from his doting parents. He even let me set him up in a little faux-studio shot with some pumpkins, fall foliage, and a vintage wash basin- and fell asleep that way! Well done, little man! I will mention that it was just as sweet to see the love his parents have for each other and for him. I was encouraged as I finished up our shoot, and reminded of the freshness of life with a new baby. In those first days and weeks, everything is new and real and life-changing. What an honor for me to be part of it- even if only for a few hours!

As the final piece of the session, we trekked out to their local pumpkin patch and braved the cold wind for a few timely fall-themed photos. We even got in free to the corn maze! Their little guy was such a trooper throughout, and we finished our last photo just as the skies broke open and the rain started pelting down (of course, I took a picture even then...).

But enough of my blathering. You want to see these photos! Scroll down, take a look, and click on the photo if you want to see it larger. Enjoy!

The classic baby-in-crib shot. A good place to start.

For a little comic relief...

His face just strikes me as so friendly. Like, what a personable little guy!

Oh, the kisses. So many kisses!

Little man being soothed by his Mama. Just a little bit of real life.

Baby toes! I can never pass up an opportunity to focus in on those.

Mom and Dad Callahan celebrated their first anniversary a few days after our shoot, so we included that wedding photo of them in the foreground for a little perspective of what their first year has brought!

You can't tell very much here, but the wind was whipping those corn stalks around like crazy! This must have been a brief moment of calm.

One of my favorites. Holding hands, holding their baby. So in love!

Standing in a field of pumpkins with a baby, laughing at a joke. Oh the funny things we photographers make people do!

Parting shot. The rain was coming down hard!

Adorable, am I right? Now you all want to get in line for lifestyle portrait sessions, right? ;)

Have a great weekend, folks, and stay tuned for more shoots coming up!

Monday, September 26, 2016

Blog friends, I am honored to introduce you to a lovely little lady by the name of Mair. She wins the award for furthest distance flown (over 4,000 miles!) to have a photo shoot with me, AND the award for best back-story among my photo clients.

You see, this beautiful, thriving toddler pictured below came into the world weighing a mere 1 pound 11 ounces. My husband and I have been praying for this sweet girl since before she was born, and fervently afterward. We looked forward to every e-mail update we received about her successes, and we felt the weight of worry when she had setbacks, as so many micro-preemies do. But God was faithful to Mair, and He brought her through that rocky start with flying colors! She has been such an encouragement to me, and when her Mama asked me to do a photo shoot for her last month, to say I was honored would be an understatement.

When the day finally came, it was hot and sunny, with clear blue skies, so we chose a seaside park at evening time in the hopes that those factors would counteract the intense heat. Thankfully (for the most part), they did! By the time that Mair started to wear down, we had moved down to the shoreline, where the tide was coming in. As a last resort, her Mama plunked her down right at the water's edge to see what she might do. Quite surprisingly, she loved it! She sat there contentedly playing, splashing, and grinning at us as the tide came up and soaked the whole bottom part of her dress. Even after about 20 minutes, she still hadn't had her fill, and complained loudly as she was removed from the water. What a funny girl. :)

I really had such a lovely time photographing Mair, and I still consider it such an honor that I got the chance! I hope to bring you photos of this sweet little lady for years to come!

She was very focused on her book. Go Dog Go- of course!

When the puppy's string wouldn't cooperate, she improvised!

That light... that breeze... what a dreamy setting!

Mair's grandparents came along for the shoot, and her grandpa was the only one who could make her smile. He was also the blessed recipient of this sweet hug!

Pure childlike wonder. I never get tired of capturing expressions like this!

Isn't her dress adorable? Yes. It is.

Grandpa was standing behind me, making her laugh! AND she did love that water.

By the end, she was one tuckered-out toddler. Not too tired to flash those beautiful blue eyes, though!

Well, friends- thanks for looking! Stay tuned for future sessions this fall, and enjoy the last bits of "summer" weather if you're lucky enough to have some! Until next time...

Friday, July 8, 2016

It is my great honor to introduce you, dear blog-readers, to a very sweet, very well-loved, and absolutely adorable little girl by the equally adorable name of Rosie. You might remember seeing her parents' maternity shoot a few weeks ago. Isn't it neat to think that this lovely little person was in there the whole time, just waiting to make her debut on the outside world? Ah, what a miracle life is. :)

Anyway, I , for one, was really excited to meet her. I think Rosie's newborn shoot takes the prize for "most stuff in my car." Not only did I pack all of my typical equipment, but I also brought extra throws, extra blankets, extra props, AND THEN I stopped by Hobby Lobby for more baskets on my way to the shoot. (Doing this all with a 3 year old and an 11 month-old in tow was probably one of my crazier ideas.) Of course, it all turned out very well. With each "set," Rosie waited until I had at least gotten a few good shots before she peed on things, which I think was pretty decent of her. She even gave me some delightfully sleepy periods, some sleep smiles, a yawn, and (of course) she elicited expressions of pure joy from her parents- which always looks great on camera.

As always with the Turner family, I left the session feeling grateful to be a part of their lives, grateful to be trusted with the job of capturing such precious memories on camera, and (this time, specifically), grateful to watch my good friends entering this new and exciting world of parenthood. I already know they're going to do an amazing job (they already are doing an amazing job), and Rosie is blessed to have them. I know they say the same of her. :)

(Pssst... you can click on the individual photos to see them larger. Do it!)

Don't you just love that little newborn-sized tutu? Her Mama found that for the shoot. :)

My good friend Lillie, of Flourish by Lillie, custom made this sweet rose headband for Rosie's session. Thank you, Lillie- you do great work!

She looks like a baby bird, hatching out of a little white egg! So cute.

Oh, those baby yawns; they are so cute! I try to catch one with every newborn I photograph, but they can be tricky!

Daddy and daughter. What could be sweeter?

I could not have asked for a more beautiful nursery to photograph!

This shot almost didn't happen. But she fell asleep again right as I was packing up the rest of my props. I had to take advantage of the moment!

The simple sweetness of a newborn baby holding hands with her Mommy. It gets me.

Thank you for taking the time to peruse these adorable photos of Rosie, and I hope to bring you many more in the years to come! Goodnight, internet!

Saturday, May 14, 2016

It brings me great joy to introduce my most recent photo session with my dear friends and repeat clients, the illustrious Turners! You may recognize them from their first session way back in 2012, or from their beach session more recently in 2014. Whenever I set out to photograph these two, I have learned to expect a lot of laughs, really picturesque settings, and amazing photos. This session was no exception. In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say this was the best one yet!

Of course, the big difference in this session was that Heather is radiantly pregnant with their first child. I mean really, she's gorgeous already. Add an adorable baby bump and the glow of maternity and we had a very winning combination. Once the golden sunset light and a giddy husband were factored in, the winning-ness was just ridiculous. Crazy, folks.

Now, as far as practical information goes, I'll tell you that this lovely location was Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano, WA, and we started shooting just as the sun was going behind the trees (hence, that marvelous, powerful light you'll see in the first few shots). The Turners supplied their own props- that super cool crushed velvet chair and those tiny hand-knit baby booties. This was also a relatively quick session, due to the unseasonably chilly weather which, thankfully, doesn't really come through in the final photos.

I'll say one sappy thing before I let you scroll through these wonderful photos. The Turners are an objectively good-looking couple. They know how to dress, they are cute, and Heather has got some great hair. But every time I work on a photo session for them, what I am really captivated by is the love in their eyes when they look at each other. There is just no denying that the most beautiful thing in their photos is always the plain-as-day, crazy-about-each-other, soul-mate-ness that comes through in every shot. If they were just my clients, I would probably think to myself as I worked on their photos, "Man, I wish I knew them better; they seem like really cool people." But, as it is, I get the honor of actually being their friend, AND capturing these memories for them. That's one reason I am SO very excited about this session- and the newest little Turner who will undoubtedly light up my lens, just like her parents. :)

Thanks for looking, folks! Stay tuned for more adorableness in the future, and have a great day (or night, depending on when you see this)!

Friday, January 15, 2016

I am glad whenever I get to hang out with the Miller family, so you can imagine how I feel when they actually pay me to hang out with them. Yup: Super. Lucky. It's a win-win, folks.

To those faithful Camellia Images fans out there, you should absolutely recognize that adorable little blonde kid in the photos. He is one of my favorite clients, the child responsible for my most popular photo ever, and an all-around cool guy. His parents aren't bad, either. ;)

Since we were right up into the Christmas season, we decided to do a casual mini session, and we chose an easy location- the back half of my mother-in-law's property, which had all manner of endearing features: a carpet of fallen leaves, beautiful trees, a rope swing, a tree house, a chicken coop, and even a whimsical little wishing well. You may also notice an unusual feature in these photos... a certain canine Miller family member. Yes, that little bundle of fur and energy is their new puppy, and he tagged along, too! (I must say, he was surprisingly good at looking at the camera when I said his name!)

I could describe all of the fun things we did, but you might as well just scroll through the photos below. Enjoy!

This one cracks me up every time.

He's good looking, AND he knows it.

A boy and his dog both exploring nature. That's admittedly a very cool fungus.

The wishing well!

I love, love, love this odd little shot. Knowing that he was looking straight down the well, but not wanting to catch my own face in the water below, I held my camera over the opening and just started taking pictures. This one happened to catch his reflection pretty clearly! Wishing wells are magical, which must mean that photos taken in wishing wells are also magical. Right?

An in-between shot, but so hip.

Aw- what a cute family they are!

Real life + Portrait session = Real life portraits.

Well, there you have it, folks! I bet you wish you knew them, too, now, eh? Or maybe you already do, and now you'll just love them all the more! Thanks for looking, everyone, and have a great weekend!

About Me

Hi, I'm Kathryn, the owner of Camellia Images and the smitten Mama of Milo, my brainy boy, and Enora, my smiley girl. Before they came along, Camellia Images was my baby. Now that I have two real babies, I have the honor of caring for all three- that's where the fun begins!
Join me as I photograph kids and families- both my own, and others'! I'm honored to capture the memories, joys, and milestones of families big and small.

So, you want to know more about Camellia Images?

I started Camellia Images in honor of my Grandmother, Camille, a small-time poet and entrepreneur in the 1950’s and 60’s. Even though she lived in the bustling heart of Southern California, her art reflected the earthy wisdom of the central plains of her youth. She pursued her dream with strength and diligence, and left behind much more than just a handful of beautiful poems. It is my goal today to carry on that tradition of creative vision and persistence through photography in all its forms. Through Camellia Images, I provide professional photography services as beautiful as they are memorable at a cost that's fair and affordable. My photos don’t just document a day in history, but reflect the style and personality of my clients.